The National tribune., 1887-02-03

ness and doubt, he viii not let his children stay
there too long He went to the rescue of
Abram. 1t is possible, Abram was downcast.
Compare 1 XII, 10 Ia; st. Matt, IL 81
Lot persisted in remaining in the neighborhood
of SodOm. The heather Kings were now his
foes and might seek revenge. But special
cause for his needing encouragement was his
fearful struggle with faith in Gods promise to
make his progeny so very numerous, 10 2-4,)
when, up to the age of 81. he was childless, and
when paternity and maternity in the case Of
himself and wife must be absolutely supernat-
ural. But Gods promises are sure of fulfill
ment. lie did not forget Abram. (Ps., 105
42-i4.)
We have a night scene. God invited Abram
to accompany him, leading him to spot whence
| the evening sky could be readily seem He
| asked him to look above and tell, if he could,
| the number of stars. Only Jehovah is Astron-
omer enough to count and name the stars.
| FPS, 1f7:4 1t is said there are 100000
stars even in the Milky Way. $50 shall be
| they seed" (Y. 81 The meaning is that it
would be as difficult to compute the number of
persons saved by the Jewish Church and its
Outgrowth, Christianity, as it would be to find
out the number Of stars. The first reference
may be to the numbers who should descend by
| physical birth from Abram and Sarai as the
| originstors of the Hebrew race. (22: II; Deu.,
1:1O) But there IS q sense in which all right
eous persons are children Of Abram. (Gal.,
the promise to begin to be realized, he believed
in the Lord" (Y 81 Such faith meant great
deal. With such belief all other things fol-
| lowed. So God counted such belief to Abram
| for righteousness. One so believing God would
obey him, would frame his life according to the
| commands of Jehovah. This exhibition offaith
on the part of AbraIn attracted the attention of
SITS. Paul and James, aud was deemed worthy
by the Holy Spirit of permanent reference and
record. (See Ro., 4:3; GAL, $50; st. James,
2:23; compare PS., 106: 81 The case is thus
held up to all generations Us holy example.
| Faith is stimulated by sight. AS a soul needs
body, SO promise is held by some sort of mate
rial development. IL sets ont picture to have
frame. Abram wanted to see Gods precious
promise made visible and tangible He would
| lind help If by some act apparent to his senses
/ he could associate with it the promise. He
/ longed for q kind of sacramental relation be-
/ tween the assurance OF God and its realization.
| 1t would be to him in some sense the outward
| visible sign" of a promise harbored by him as a
kind of inward spiritual grace" Hence follows
asacrifce, theacceptance of which would answer
| Abrams question whereby shall know that
| / shall inherit it?" He knew the fact for the
/ time, but the personal, visible God was soon to
| withdraw from the sight of Abram. The man
recalled his liability, in the midst of discourage
ments and delays. to possible temporary seept-
icism, or at least discomfort from Gods prOcras-
of which would spur up his faith if for an in
slant it Jagged. Compare cases of Abraham's
| seTyant-Gen., 81: 10, 14-and Gideon, Jud.,
q: II, 30 We have our methods to-day for TAX
/ ing oathsin civil courts. In early times way was
to cut an animal in twain, and let the contract
ing parties pass between the halves. (Jer., 81: Is
/ 49, God and AbTam were TO enter into a sacred
covenant with each. God was to make very
impressive, solemn promise to Abram. This
/ promise having been scaled by the interested
/ parties going through form Of taking oaths
Abram determined to make the service also an
act of worship. The victims were ready and
awaited the usual signal from Heaven of accept
ance on the part of God, said sign of approval
| being the descent of fire and the consumption
thereby of the sacrifice. Abram watched faith
fully all day, but fire was withheld. He may
have become utterly wearied, or very probably
| the sleep was caused systematically. tGen.
2:2l.) 1t was restless sleep, being attended
| by visions. Job, Alb 49, God appeared
and renewed the promises made at Ur and
Haran and Bethel
God is fair. He holds out no false induce
ments nor vain eneouragements. He tells the
worst. The promise as To progeny was TO prove
true, and was confirmed by the celestial fire
descending on Abrams Offering. (V. ~ But
| there were trials before Abram and his race,
and it was we'll to prepare the Hebrew minds
for their career by showing them beforehand
what to expect. They were not to become set
tied in Canaan before they would be obliged
to leave the land. A period of 2l5 years was
to be passed in Egypt, a large part Of the time
in slavery. lex, 1:11.) The exodus was TO
take place 430 years from the time of the Call
of Abram mt Haran. (Ex., II: 40, fl !; GAL,
3: IL. st. Stephen in his grand grafton, Acts,
~ gives merely the round number, 400 years.
But at length God rescued the Abrame people.
The judgments against the Egyptians were
severe. tDeu., 6:22.1 The descendants Of
Abram escaped, carrying much wealth and
many treasures tx, IL 50; Ps., 100: 80
The Call and Promise to Abram were not sim
ply personal, but inclusive of his descendants
Hence his death would not be in the way Of
its fulfillment. Indeed he died 81 years after
this lesson, aged l75 years. (25:7, 81 The
extent of territory pledged to Abram reached
cast to the Euphrates and southwest 70 the
Nile (river of Egypt. In the time of solomon
the nearest approach was made by the Hebrew
race toward complete possession and govern
ance by the Abramic rulers of the entire region
promised 10 Abram. Though God gave all
the territory to the Hebrews, it was on the
condition they should act in concert with God
in driving out the heather residents. The
amount of the Promised Land actually acquired
by the Hebrews would therefore depend on
their energy, ambition, courage and persist
ence.
Lessons:
I. We see the utility Of object teaching
God impressed great truths on Abram by means
of the stars and the sacrifices Those taught
are helped through vision rs well as hearing
?. Depend on God. He brought Abram out
from Ur and Haran and Egypt, and helped him
against the Kings who carried off Lot. He
went to Abram at every turning-point, every
emergency, every encouragement. (Ps., 2S:7;
81 30; 46 L; SI:9, IL; I25:1)
3 Worship God. Since Christ's death, the
Offering of various animals as sacrifices is not
required. Worship God in spirit and truth.
4. When fools would descend to mutilate or
soil the sacrifices, Abram drove them away.
These are annoyances even in worship, but
these in every church should be reduced to the
minimum. Drive out anything which would
make our sacrifices of song and prayer less ac-
ceptable TO God. The clearing of the Temple
by our Savior was suggested. We remember,
too, the allusion of Christ TO the fowls bearing
away the good seed. And further, drive away
from our minds in the sanctuary all worldly
thoughts.
3. Rely on all Gods promises to US. God is
as true as the stars. His promises to US are
numerous as the stars.
g. Exercise faith. Faith is needed that in
sures obedience and renders Us righteous.
Abrams faith impelled him from Ur and
Haran. We want faith that makes US act.
(St. James, 2:17-2i; ST. John, ID 49,
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